Library / English Dictionary

SERIOUSLY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (adverb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

To a severe or serious degree

Example:

was seriously ill

Synonyms:

badly; gravely; seriously; severely

Classified under:

Adverbs

Pertainym:

serious (causing fear or anxiety by threatening great harm)

Sense 2

Meaning:

In a serious manner

Example:

a play dealing seriously with the question of divorce

Synonyms:

earnestly; in earnest; seriously

Classified under:

Adverbs

Pertainym:

serious (concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities)

Credits

 Context examples: 

Mr. Holmwood has been suddenly called to Ring to see his father, who has been taken seriously ill.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

"Now, Teddy, I want to talk seriously to you about tomorrow," began Jo, as they strolled away together.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

For other conditions, a process that is not seriously resistant to treatment or dangerous to health.

(Non-Malignant, NCI Thesaurus)

I seriously believe it had never once entered my head for a single moment, to consider whether she was or not.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

“Upon my honour,” said he very seriously, “it does not. It is not in the smallest degree connected with any human being of the name of Knightley.”

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

I know it is,—replied her mother seriously, or after such a warning, I should be the last to encourage such affection, or even to be pleased by it.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

I determined that the time had come when I should reveal myself to my son, the more so as there were many signs that my most unnatural existence had seriously weakened my health.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Seriously, however, she felt tolerably persuaded that all this must have taken place with that gentleman's concurrence.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

“So it seems to me,” said John seriously.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

So now we must set ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)